Soil excavation by SLA ruins fertile fields

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:15 GMT]Mr.V. Shanmugam, President of the Thenmaradchchi-Mirusuvil Farmers
Associations' Federation Monday expressed deep concern that several acres
of fertile paddy fields are ruined following excavation of soil by the
Sri Lanka Army (SLA). SLA soldiers use soil from
paddy fields to build earth bunds and to strengthen their bunkers and
sentry points, civil sources said.

Mr Shanmugam further said that SLA action is destroying natural and mineral resources of the area. Cash and paddy crops in these lands are destroyed due to water
stagnating in the areas where excavation is taking place, he pointed
out to the authorities.

Meanwhile, eighty seven percent of wells in the south of Kudarappu,
Kudathanai, Amban, Mamunai and Sembianpattu in the Vadamaradchchi east
division are reported to have become saline due to sea water stagnation at
Nagarkovil area from the lagoon which stretches from Thondamannaru to
Chundikulam, civil sources said.

The SLA declared Nagarkovil area as the high security zone on 27th March
2000. Since then the flow of seawater
was almost stopped between Maruthankerni Bridge and Nagarkovil due to
construction of sand bunds in several places by the SLA.